Rural Community Gateway

Here's a taster of what you can expect…

VIPs From The Food Industry

The Royal Highland’s role in forging links between all sectors of farm and food production is endorsed with visits on Thursday by some of the big hitters in the food industry. They include Stuart Rose, Justin King and Steve Easterbrook, Chief Executives respectively of Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and McDonalds Restaurants.

Political Clout

Scottish Executive Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead, who has responsibility for rural affairs and the environment, will be at the show on Friday where he will fulfil a number of engagements. His portfolio includes agriculture, fisheries, rural development, aquaculture, forestry, land reform, water quality and sustainable development. The varied nature of the event ensures he will come across all of these subjects as he tours the showground.

Beer and Wine

There’s a new German themed bar this year opposite the Forestry Arena where visitors can enjoy authentic “bier and bratwurst”. Prost!  For wine buffs or those who fancy educating their palate to differentiate between a Chablis and a Chardonnay, a Bordeaux or a Bulgarian Cabernet, Great Grog of Edinburgh are holding wine tastings in the Food Hall -  four a day with tickets costing £5.

Cheese – Italy v. Scotland

Not quite European Championship football but competition nonetheless! Normally, cheese entries at the show come from Scottish creameries but this year there are entries from Italy where the prospect of winning a Royal Highland prize ticket obviously offers promotional opportunities. Listed among the cheese judges is The Scotsman countryside writer Alistair Roberston from Huntly.

(N) Ice Cream!

Ice cream classes were introduced last year with the championship going to Stewart Tower Dairy of Stanley in Perthshire. Wine expert Rose Murray Brown will be putting her taste buds to a different test when she joins Joseph Boni of the well known Edinburgh ice cream family and  Vincent Fusaro of Luvians Ice Cream, Cupar, in choosing the best.

Healthy Children

With children under 16 going free at the show, last year more than 25,000 came to Ingliston either in school groups or with their families. Mecca for the youngsters is the Education Centre with a whole host of activities co-ordinated by the Royal Highland Education Trust. Theme this year is Healthy Inputs Equals Healthy Outputs reflecting the current interest in healthy eating, proper diet and exercise. A new feature is a “hands-on” cookery theatre sponsored by supermarket chain Morrisons.

An A-Z Of Livestock

From Aberdeen Angus cattle to Zwartbles sheep, there’s a full alphabet of stock on show with nearly 5000 cattle, sheep, goats and horses. The Zwartbles are new to the Royal Highland this year and the breed, originally from Holland, and with distinctive black and white markings, has 62 animals entered in various classes.

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